Reading the Story Andrew Lawler Space Studies Board Workshop November 10, 2010
Getting it Straight Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. --Joseph Pulitzer
Not Rocket Science Journalism consists in buying white paper at two cents a pound and selling it at ten cents a pound. --Charles Anderson Dana
Everything Fit to Print? The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything. Except what is worth knowing. Journalism, conscious of this and having tradesmanlike habits, supplies their demands. --Oscar Wilde
Sage Truths We journalists make it a point to know very little about an extremely wide variety of topics; this is how we stay objective. --Dave Barry Dealing with the media is more difficult that bathing a leper. --Mother Teresa
2008-The Great Change
Is Print Still Relevant?
It Is the Message, Not The Medium Online news services Blogs Twitter YouTube
Journalists Now Jack of All Trades Online stories rewritten for print, then print stories updated for online. Blogs turn into print stories, then online stories Past: a reporter reports, a photographer photographs, an editor edits, then the public gets to see it Present: Reporters report, write, blog, film, edit, update, respond to readers who watch that process all in a day s work Opinionated and personalized views increasingly welcomed and expected
Shedding Light In Public
The Journalist s Job is NOT to publicize your research, enhance your career, or tear down your critics. to hide your warts. to be your obedient graduate student. to promise you page one, right column.
The Journalist s Job IS to get it right. to ask sometimes foolish, embarrassing, or uncomfortable questions. to write a compelling story which will pull readers in. to correct what they get wrong as soon as and publicly as possible.
Building Relationships Are you after a one-night stand, or a long-term relationship? If you treat journalists as your enemy, it will be hard for them to become your friends. Like any relationship, you get to set your own boundaries. Don t stew in resentment about a story; call the reporter and talk to him or her.
How Does U.S. Space Science Fare? Washington Metrics NASA Earth and science budget: $4.5 billion National Science Foundation: $6.9 billion National Institute of Health: $31 billion Department of Energy/science: $4.9 billion
How Does Space Science Fare? Science Online: 2006-2010 f Biology--576 Physics 380 Mars 188 Chemistry 169 Astronomy 91 Astrophysics 85 Black Holes--69 Nanotechnology 46 Asteroids 46 Oceanography 34 Archaeology 33
What Makes Space Science Different from Other Disciplines?
Space Science s Special Relationship Patrons are essential whatever the political or religious system
Astronomy, Astrology, And Power
Connecting Heaven and Earth Voltaire: Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy: the mad daughter of a wise mother. I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical. ~Arthur C. Clarke
But Before Galileo, Intertwined Annual Solar Calendar Lunar Calendar Planetary Movement Eclipse Prediction Asteroid/Comet Detection
Along with Proximity to Power, the Eternal Lure of the Heavens Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth. - Ptolemy,c.150 AD
Modern Space Science s Edge Deeply impractical Removed from Earth and the day to day Access to remote, mythological, but concrete places Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Targets are beyond any congressional jurisdiction or national border The power of the heavens exceeds the pull of the depths, Cousteau notwithstanding
Crisis? $7 Billion in Potato Chips
Forget Spin-Offs; Think The Big Questions Where does the universe come from? What does the universe look like? Are we alone? What happens in the end?
Dealing with Dinosaurs It is a jungle out there. FoxNews, MSNBC, celebrity Twitters, paid interviews, sensational breaking news-who to trust? Traditional print still offers length, depth, and a needed filter amid the noise of today s media.
A Never-ending Story With Never-ending Appeal
Thank You